Vyapam Scam: CBI Begins Probe, Registers First Set Of FIRs In The Case

Indian Youth Congress (IYC) activists shout anti-government slogans as they take part in a mock Hindu funeral procession during a protest against a cash-for-jobs scandal in New Delhi on July 14, 2015. The embattled chief minister of India's Madhya Pradesh state July 7, 2015 asked federal investigators to carry out an independent probe into a jobs scandal after a spate of deaths which opponents have linked to the scam. Nearly 2,000 people have been arrested since 2013 over the so-called Vyapam scandal in which thousands of people are alleged to have paid bribes in return for jobs on the state payroll or for places in educational institutes. AFP PHOTO / SAJJAD HUSSAIN (Photo credit should read SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI— The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team probing the Vyapam scam has registered its first two FIRs in the case.

The FIRs have been registered in connection with the Pre-Medical Test of 2010 and the pre-PG Examination 2011.

The first FIR is in 2010 Pre-Medical Test exam against 21 candidates and is registered under section 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 474 and 120B of IPC, according to CNN-IBN report.

The second FIR is against eight accused in 2011 Pre-PG exam and is registered under section 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120 B of IPC and under Madhya Pradesh Recognised Examination Act.

The CBI investigation comes after the Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu, had on 9 July transferred the probe of all Vyapam cases, including the related deaths, to the investigative authorities.

The Supreme Court while handing over the investigation to the CBI had also asked it to probe the deaths of people linked to the Vyapam scam. According to the Congress, 49 people associated with the massive admission and recruitment scam have died mysteriously so far.

The Supreme Court has asked the premier investigative agency to file its report to the apex court on July 24 when it is likely to take a call on monitoring the investigation as demanded by some petitioners including Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh.

The CBI has named 21 candidates in the FIR in connection with Pre-Medical Test 2010, booking them under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery among others, sources said.

In the second case against eight suspects in Pre-PG examination 2011, the agency has registered FIR under same sections.

Those named in the FIR include Gulab Singh Kirar, a member of the MP Backward Classes and Minorities Commission and his son Shakti Singh Kirar.

Others named include Sudhir Bhadauria and Pankaj Trivedi, both former controllers of examination with Vyapam.

The premier investigative agency has constituted a 40-member team headed by Joint Director R.P. Agarwal to probe the scam in which several high-profile politicians and bureaucrats are accused.

The scam involves professionals, high-profile politicians and bureaucrats with hundreds of people including aspirants and their parents in jail. Former MP Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma and several top bureaucrats are also behind the bars.